Film marker



Patented July 27',

woman.

Turner, Los Andes, Caliih, auignor.

to Radio Corporation!!! America, a corporation 1:! Delaware Application March 28, 1945, Serial No. 585,239

' 8- Claims. (Cl. 164-99) This invention relates to motion picture sound apparatus, and particularly to a system for marking or cueing a motion picture film while in motion through a camera, recorder, projector, sound reproducer, or other similar type of sound advancing film mechanism.

, In Jones U. 8. Patent No. 2,385,861 of October 2, 1945, a film marking system of the general type of this invention is disclosed and claimed, the Jones system, however, utilizing a marking element in the form of a siphon ink recorder or a pencil. Such a system is satisfactory to provide a mark on the film at the point where the film is to be inspected, as pointed out in the above mentioned patent. However, it is realized that an ink or pencil mark is not easily observed unless the film is subjected to good lighting or the film is passed over a light well.

The present invention, therefore, is directed to a marking element per se, suitable for use in the Jones system which provides an easily detectable mark atthe desired position on the film. Specifically, the marking unit perforates or punches vsmall pin holes in the film which are found simply by passing thefilm between the fingers.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to facilitate the marking or cueing of sound motion picture film during motion of the film.

Another object of the'invention is to provide a marking or cueing device which will mark a film during its motion at the exact point at which the film is to be inspected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marking system for a film in motion operable from a remote point. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide a marking device for a moving film which.

Fig. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the marking unit taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals identify the same elements, a console 5, having a neon type of volume indicator 6 and three mixing potentiometer controls 8, 8, aad II, is shown intermediate three sound reproducers A, B, and C, and a loud speaker 4. The output of reproducer A is shown connected over conductors l2 to the mixing potentiometer 8; the output of reproducer B is shown connected over conductors ii to the mixing potentiometer l: and the output of reproducer C is shown connected over conductors ll to the mixing potentiometer Ill. The output of the three potentiometers is then combined and fed over conductors Ii to the loud speaker l, the level of the combined outputs of the reproducers being indicated by the neon tube volume indicator 8.

Adjacent the potentiometers 9 and III, are respective switches I1 and I8, switch l'l being connected Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims, the manner of its organization and the mode of its operation will .be better understood by referring to the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

over conductors 20 through a potential energy source, such as a battery 2|, to the filmv marking unit 22 of the invention, this unit being shown diagrammatically with a perforating wheel 23 and an electromagnet 24. Similarly, the switch II is connected over conductors 26 through a battery 21 to a marking device 2! diagrammatically represented as having a perforating wheel 30 and an electromagnet 3|.

The above system functions in substantially the same manner as that disclosed in the above men-V tioned Jones patent, in that when the operator or mixer at the console 5 desires to mark a film in either reproducer B or reproducer 0, he simply closes the respective switches H or I81. In a sound reproducer, the marker is positioned behind the translation point so that the sound track point will be at the marker when it is actuated.

Thus, the operating lag is compensated for. It is to be understood that reproducer A may also be provided with a similar marking unit, if desired. l

As mentioned above, the'present marking unit produces a mark on the film whichis readily detectable by an operator simply by the sense of touch. That is, it is only necessary to slide the film through the fingers to recognize the perforations. The device for making the perforations is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, and will now be described.

Briefly, the perforation are made by bringing a wheel in contact with the moving film at the point to be marked, the wheel having needle points around its periphery which pierce the film as the ,wheel rotates with the film. The marker has anielectromagnet of circular shape comprising a winding Eli, a case 36, and a slotted core element 91. Threaded into the upper end-of its periphery. These needle points may be approximately one-eighth of an inch in length.

Attached to the casing 36 and surrounding the wheel and the yoke 50 is a dome-like guard 48 having a slot 41 therein to permit egress of the wheel 83. When the coil 35 is energized, the core 31 is attracted toward the center of the winding, which raises the wheel 43 into contact withthe film on a sprocket 52, as shown by the dotted lines 50. The marking device is preferably mounted below the sprocket 82 in which a notch 53 has been milled to insure that the needle points do not contact the sprocket.' The dome 46 protects the film from becoming scratched during the threading of the apparatus. To maintain the wheel in alignment with the slot 41 and with the film, the lower part of the core 31 is slotted, as shown at 55, an insert 58 extending through the slot and into the lower portion of the casing. The core 31, therefore, simply slides up and down on the insert 58, while a spring element 59 surrounding the stem 39 of the yoke insures the return of the wheel to inoperative position within the protective casing it. To adjust the depth to which the needle points 84 pierce the film, a pin 51 extends from the yoke. w, the pin contacting an adjustable arm 58' mounted on a bolt 59. V

Such a device has been found extremely serviceable in a film marking system, such as shown in the above mentioned patent, the small perforations made by the instant device being very the invention may be used in cameras and praisetors it is particularly suitable for sound film wherein the perforations are made on the opposite edge of the film away from the sound track area, so as not to interfere in any manner with the reproduction of the sound track. Also, the mark is permanent, so it can be located at any time in the future.

I claim as my invention:

1. A film marking device comprising a wheel having a pluralityof needle points extending from its periphery, an: electromagnet having an armature on which said wheel is directly mounted, and means for energizing said electromagnet for moving the needle points of said wheel into contact with a moving film for continuously perforating said film by a series of said needle points during the period of energization of said electromagnet.

. for enclosing said wheel when said armature is in rest position, said casing having a slot for egress of said wheel when said coil is enem 3. A perforator for a wheel having a plurality of needle points extending from its periphery, an armature having a yoke at one end and a core at the other end, an axle extending through said yoke for rotatably mounting said wheel thereon, a coil surrounding said core for longitudinally moving said armature when said coil is energized, and a casing for said wheel to prevent, film coming in contact therewith when said coil is de-energized, said casing having a slot therein to permit egress of said wheel upon energization of said coil.

4. A perforator in accordance with claim 3, in

which adjustable means are provided for limiting the movement of said wheel when said coil is energized.

5. YA marker for moving film comprising a rotatable wheel having a plurality of needle points extending from its periphery, means for mounting said wheel adjacent a moving film, and an electromagnet for directly moving said mounting means to bring said needle point in contact with said film to pierce said film as said wheel 'rotates'with the movement of said film.

6. A .marker for moving film comprising a rotatable wheel having a plurality of needle points uniformly spaced and extending radially from the periphery of said wheel, means for advancing a film adjacent and substantially parallel with the axis of said wheel, and an electromagnet for directly moving said needle points into contact with said advancing film, said wheel being rotated by said advancing film.

7. A device for marking a moving film at a predetermined point comprising an electromagnet having a coil and an armature, a wheel having needle points thereon mounted directly on said armature, means for energizing saidcoil for moving said armature and wheel to bring said needle points in contact with said moving film upon energization of said coil, and means for prevent ingcontact between said film and said needle points when said coil is de-energized;

8. A device for perforating a film with a series of equally spaced perforations comprising an electromagnet, means for energizing said electromagnet. means for moving film past a certain point, an armature for said electromagnet, and

a wheel having a plurality of needle points extending from its periphery and mounted directly on said armature adjacent said film, the energiza tion of said electromagnet positioning the needle points in contact with said film during the energization of said electromagnet to provide a series of perforations in said film during the energizetion of said electromagnet, said film rotating said wheel during the period of contact of said needle points therewith.

WILLARD H. TURNER.

assurances crrnn The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Foehrenback Aug. 11, 1938 film in motion comprising 

